Totalizing counter mechanism for coin handling machines



J. A. FENNERTY March 25, 1958 TOTALIZ ING COUNTER MECHANISM FOR COIN H ANDLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 19, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ENTOR;

March-Z5, 1958 J, FENNERTY 2,828,073

TOTALIZING CCUNT ER MECHANISM FOR COIN HANDLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 19, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 log 4 a NVENTOR.

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March 25, 1958 J, A. FENNERTY 2,828,073

TOTALIZING COUNTER MECHANISM FOR com HANDLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 19, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet :s

FLILIVENTOR;

9 1' f WMIA' March 1958 J. A. FENNERTY V 2,828,073

TOTALIZING COUNTER MECHANISM FOR COIN HANDLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 19, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q INVENTOR; I 0a. 4221.

Quad; 1 Hus,

United States TOTALIZING COUNTER MECHANISM FOR COIN HANDLING MACHINES John A. Fennerty, Chicago, Ill., assignor to E. James Quirk, Water-town, Wis.

The invention relates to coin handling machines, and more particularly to a coin controlled electrically operated totalizing counter for a coin handling machine, either of the receiving type such as a coin sorter, or coin payer type whereby all the coins of different denomination may be totalized by the counter to show the total dollar and cents value of the coins handled.

One object of the invention is to provide an electrically operated coin controlled totalizing counter in which the transfer from the unit wheel to the tens wheel is effected by an electromagnet controlled by a transfer switch rendered operable when the unit wheel completes its count of ten.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel reset mechanism for the totalizing counter including a reset switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide electrically controlled mechanism for stopping the delivery of coins by the coin handling machine inthe event that any one of the coin controlled switches controlling the totalizing counter should become defective or fail to operate.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of a coin sorter equipped with totalizing counter mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailed elevation view of a portion of the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the totalizing counter and its actuators;

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detailed front elevation view of a portion of the sorting drum;

Fig. 9 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a detailed side elevation view of parts of the mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram;

Fig. 13 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation view of a portion of a coin atent "ice Fig. 16 is a detailed horizontal sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig- 15;

Fig. 17 is a detailed horizontal sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of Figals;

Fig. 18 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 18-18 of Fig. 17.

I have shown the invention applied to a coin sorting machine of known construction, and only so much of this machine as is necessary for an understanding of the novel improvements later described herein has been shown. This machine includes a hopper 15 supported at an angle so that the coins to be sorted may be carried upwardly in a notched rotary bottom plate (not shown) and allowed to drop from the notches into a series of coin sorting slots 16 formed on the periphery of a sorting drum or core 17 which rotates within a fixed enclosing shell 18 and carries the notched plate. Rotation of the drum and its connected parts is accomplished by a suitable transmission drive, part of which is indicated by the cover 19, connected to the shaft of an electric motor 20. Also the drive mechanism 21' for the individual counter 22 for each coin denomination has been indicated, the particular drive mechanism here shown being that disclosed in the application of Arnold R. Buchholz, Serial No. 182,209, filed August 30, 1950, now Patent No.

2,642,882, for coin sorting and counting machine.

sorting machine showing the automatic stopping mechanism embodying the invention;

The. sorter is of the type in which the slots 16 form a series of radially disposed channels 23 whose width decreases from top to bottom, one side of these channels at spaced intervals having inclined shelf or ledge portions 24 forming a series of graduated stops for arresting coins of different denominations. Thus in Fig. 8, in which a portion of the drum is shown through an opening in the shell, the top shelf 24 arrests a half dollar, the next a quarter, one of which is shown in dotted, the next a nickel, the next a penny, and the next or lower slot a dime. As the drum is revolved, one coin from the hopper finds its way into one of the slots 16, and as it drops down in such slot, it is caught by one or the other of the shelves 24, depending upon their denomination and is carried around by the drum past the circuit closures hereinafter described and the individual counter actuating mechanisms 21 and then deposited in known manner into separate receptacles for each denomination.

The present invention deals with mechanism for registering in dollars and cents the total amount of the coins sorted, and for this purpose includes a counter C and mechanism controlled by the sorted coins to actuate this counter. The counter C is of the conventional or known zero setting type in which the wheels are set back to zero by the turning of a zero setting shaft 25 except that the usual transfer gear between the unit wheel and the tens wheel has been omitted, and cams hereinafter described are associated with the shaft 25.

Referring to Figs. 1, 9 and 10, switches or circuit closures 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the type. having a button actuator 32 and a resilient actuating arm 33 carrying a roller 34 are mounted on the shell 18 in such a position that the rollers 34 of the arms 33-will work through slots 35 in the shell and annular slots 36 in the drum 17, so that as the drum carries coins past these rollers, they will engage the coins and with their arms 33 be moved to cause the arms to press inwardly on the buttons 32 to close the switches controlled thereby; The switch 26 is actuated by the passage beneath it of a fifty cent piece. The switches 27 and 28 are actuated by the passage beneath them of a twenty-five cent piece. The switch 29 is actuated by the passage beneath it of a five cent piece. The switch v30 is actuated by the passage beneath it of a penny piece, and the switch 31 is actuated by the passage beneath it.of a ten cent piece. The

.1 3 above'named switchesare in electricalcircuits controlling solenoids 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41.

The .,11ni t wheel 42 ofrthecounterzCrcarries atgear 43 which meshes with a Segmentahgeargf''jouriialled on a bracket 45.and having .a ,linkf46pivofa1ly secl'lred'there to by acrankpin 47 andpivotally connected attitsjfother end tov an oscillatory lever 48fby'fiagpin 49.2 A rod or link"50' is 'pivotally' connected at one end to the ,pin .149 and is pivotally connected at its othenehdltmanvosiiillatory; lever51j similar to" the lever'f69, 'T' ,The' link 50. ,has spaced pins'i52 each fadapted tobejengage'dbv an oscillatorytleve'rf53; similar to, thevleversfl 1,1 and carrying apin, similar to the lpinfllgijbu f'nalled in; 31 hracket 55. .At its upper gend each lever, 53 carries an, ,arrrr or rpin 56 adapted to works in aslot 57 jof the'plunger of its asso- .ciated solenoid; Thus energization offleither IheISOlnQid Q37.- 01 38Jwill' through its plunger .and ,rassociafted lever 53 and pini52.causeia movement'ofl h linkfj50ia'nd crank 46' toward the left as lviewe'd in Fig; 3 against. the. ,action of a returnspring'SS to partiallytrotate'j the gear '44 and consequentlythe-counter,unit wheel '42. 'The extent of rotary movementot'the .wheel1142 iscontroll'ed by. the stroke of the.solenoids through. their adjustable stops 59. -The stop. for solenoid 37 is adjusted so that the stroke ofgitsplunger will advance the'wheel42 one. tooth or-unit space; which represents" the registry "of one cent, while the-stop for solen'oid38 is adjusted so that the strokelof its plunger will advance the wheel42 five teeth to register a five .cent count.

The" tens wheel .60 of the counter .carries a gear 61 which meshes with. a' segmental *gear 62 journalled in a bracket'63iand havingllink'64'pivotally secured thereto by a" crank pin "65' and pivotally connected 'atits other end to an oscillatory lever66 by a pin 67. I A rod or link 68 ispivotally connected atone end to the'pin67 and is pivotallyconnected 'atiits' other end to. an oscillatory lever '69. The "link "68 is'sir'nila'r to the link'50 and carries spaced pins 70," each adapted to be engaged b gan: oscillatory lever 71,similar to 'thelever"'53,and carrying a pin 72 journalledin a bracket 73. .At its upper end each lever 71*carries an arm orpin '74 adapted to work in a slot-750i theplungerof its .associatedjsolenoid' .Thus energization of either thesolenoid 39, A or 41 will throughiits plunger"andassociated lever 71 and pin 67 cause a movement of the. link 68 and crank "64, toward the left -as viewed infig; 3' against'1the action of a,return spring-76 to partially rotate the gear] 62 and consequently the counter tens wheelfitl. ,A betore, the strokes of the solenoids are "adjusted so that the strokeof thenplunger forsolenoid'41' 'will 'advance thewheelf60 one tooth which represents ten centslor ten units, that of tthenplunger for solenoid-40 so as'to :advance the wheel 60 twotteeth which representstwenty cents or twenty units and that of theplunger for the solenoid 39 so as to adVanceJthe wheel 60 five teeth which represents fifty cents orjfitty units.

The relation of .the switches 26 to31 and the solenoids 37 to 41 is shown in Fig.'112 whereinrthe' line wire 77 has branch circuit connections such. as .77a tto one terminal of the solenoids 37 to 41 and includes a cut out switch 78 functioningduringresetting, the coil of a solenoid 79 and connects with one terminal oftthe drive motor- 20. The line'wire 80' includes a. manual cutout switch 81 and branch c0nnections'82 andj83. The switches 26 to 31 are of theydouble throw type,'that is, their movable switch armsl33 make contact with either a fixedlcontact a or b." The contact act the switch 30 is connected by a conductor -84 with the other terminaPofthecoil 0f sole- 7' noid 3 7. *The contacts a,,of switches'27 and'29 are connected-by a'conductor 85 to the "other terminaLof the nected by a conductor"86';to the other terminal ofuthe coil *"of solenoid 41 "and' also' to 'the conductor 83. The contact a of switch" 38 is 1 connected by a conductor T87 to' -the-o'ther terminal of the'coilof 'solenoid40. The

"contact 'a'-'of'switch""26 is connected by a conductof88 to the other terminal of the coil of solenoid 39. The switches 26 to 31 are connected in series through connectors 89, eachvof which connects their b contact with the movable arm of the next switch and the contact b of the switch 27, the last switch-in the series being connected byai conductor-90-with: theother terminal :of the motor 20. ""A trafisfencontrolswitch:91 is included in the conductor 83. Apilot light 92 and a reset controlled control "switch 96 ais connected: across the line "'7 7 and the conductor=82.

With. the allover-arrangement whent theiswitchzfil is closed, the circuit through the motor 20 is completed through the normally-closedrswitch 78; the coil 79 and the return circuit including the switches 26 to 31. Since the motor supply current is through the switches 26 to ,1, whentrany; onezroftheseswitches-is operated by .the passage; of atcoin-ibeneath its arm 33, the :motor circuit will .be opened rbut ,after .theacoinipasses the; arm, it will beagainoclosedso .that the? machine wills-still keep ,on running unless one of the-contact arms-or the contacts associated with thesetarms isdefectiveso that the circuit cannot be completed. if-Referring to Eigs. l,- 8, and=l2, whenever the sorter-carries a [fifty cent; piece .past: the switch; 26, thencontact,of thet-arrrr of rthis switch; engages its acontactrsouthatithe-coil:.of solenoid 39 is connected across the, current rsupplyt byt-tthe. conductor- :88 and its 7 connections :with the :switchesT28,,31, 29,- .and 30 .and .con-

ductor 82 and is energized, and through the mechanism previously describedi-thewtens wheel 60- is advanced five teeth rtoregister a'counttof-L fifty. -wWhen the-sorter carries a quarter past the switches 27 and 28, thedarm;of.each

switch contacts its a contacgabut: the arm :for the switch 27 .heingrspacedtfrom .that zofethe switch 28 is operated beforethat ofnthe switchm28.;Movement-,ofswitch 27 to itstcontact avtconnects rthe. coiL-of solenoid v38 across the current supply by; rtheaconductor v85 and; its connections with the switches 31 to 27 and conductor 82 so thatsolenoid..38 istenergized zandrthrough .the mechanism ,previouslykdescribedlhe unit wheel 42 is advanced fiveteeth or five units. Movementfofhwitchr-28rto its; contact a connects the coil of solenoid 40 across thetcurrentsupply byhconductor t87. andtits\ connections --.with "switches 31, 29 and 30 and .conductoru82rso that solenoid 40- is energized and through the mechanism previously described thetenswheel 60,:is adyancedtwotteethorttwentyaunits so that the combined total registered by the counter is twenty-five. flvtl'lencthezsor ter carries a pennypast'the circuit closure 30, the arm of this switch engages its a. contact 'so. thatnthe. .c oil:- off solenoid 37 is connected across the current supply by the conductors-84 andr82and energized V and.through.themmechanismtpreviously described the unit wheel is advanced one tooth to'registena count vof .Onccent. .whenthesortcrncarries a 'dimepastathc switch 31, its a contact is connected acrossthe currentsupply by.,-. the;. conductor, 86; and its. connections :with switches 2 9 and 28 and conductor 82 and is energized, and through theimechanism previously descr-ibed the. tens wheel is advanced one tooth to register a countoi ten or-ten cents. xAS PI VlOuSly. noted-, thei-unit wheel 42,and the tens wheel 60 are not connected in the usual manner'by a transfersgeanbutthese wheels are? separate and the transfer is'eiTected through the energization of the'solenoid-41 brought about by then-closing of :theswitch ;91' which is rendered operative when the unit wheel makes-tone complete revolution. Referring ,to Figs. 3-'and 4, the switch 91 includes fiexiblerontact members 91a and 92a which down into. azcam: notch .-93a,. ;inssaidperiphery. when'zthe wheel 42 has been advanceddtentteeth thus closing =the switch 91 to energize the solenoid 41 and thereby advance the wheel 60 one tooth or ten units. The counter wheels are provided with the usual one way clutches 94 indicated in Fig. 13 which permit them to be advanced in the counting direction but prevent their retrograde movement. All the other higher count wheels including the wheel 60 have the usual transfer gear 95 associated with them to transfer the count from the lower value wheel to the next higher as shown in Figs. 7 and 14.

For resetting the counter C to zero it is necessary to prevent the switch 91 from being effective, and this is done by the opening of the line 77 by the opening of the normally closed switch 78 to prevent energization of the solenoid 41. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the switch 78 includes flexible resilient contacts 96 and 97 normally closed during counter operation since the extended end of contact 96 rests in a relief groove 98 in a cam 99 on the reset shaft 25 but which is moved to open the circuit between contacts 96 and 97 as soon as the operator turns the shaft 25 to reset the counter.

The switch 93 for the pilot light 92 is a normally open switch whose actuator button 100 is associated with a resilient actuator arm 101 having a roller 102 disposed in a slot 103 in a slidably mounted bar 104 that has spaced wedgecam fingers 105 and 106 associated with the links 46 and 64, respectively, as shown in Fig. 5, so that whenever either the link 46 or the link 64 is actuated by its associated solenoid on the downward movement of either of these links, the bar 104 will be pushed to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 to move the arm 101 against the button 100 and close the switch 93 to light the pilot light which stays on until the counter C is reset. During reseting a cam 108 on the reset shaft 25 is turned with said shaft to tilt a lever 109 that in turn tilts a bell crank lever 110 whose free arm engages the end 111 of the bar 104 to move it back to an inoperative position so that the switch 93 remains open during resetting.

The counter is shown as provided with a key-controlled lock 112 for the reset shaft 25 to prevent its unauthorized resetting.

Since as previously noted all the switches 26 to 31 are in series with the current supply to the motor 20, if any one of these switches gets out of order as by breakage of a contact arm or burning of a contact, the current supply to the motor 20 will be stopped. However, due to the momentum of the motor and the drum 17, the drum would not be stopped immediately so that a coin might be carried by the defective switch and would not be registered by the counter. To prevent this occurring means have been provided for positively stopping the drum 17 and consequently the motor 20 which as shown in Figs. 15 to 18 includes the coil of thesolenoid 79 whose plunger 112 is connected to one end of a lever 113 pivoted intermediate its ends at 114 and operatively connected at its other end 115 to a latch member 116. The latch member 116 is normally urged by a spring 117 toward a locking plate 118 secured to the drum and provided with a series of radially disposed notches 1.19, which notches are circumferentially spaced half way between the circumferential spacing of the sorting notches 16 so that when the latch 116 engages any one of the notches 119, the drum 17 is stopped before a succeeding notch 16 can be moved to a position where one of, the

circuit closers would be effective. The solenoid 79 acts to hold the latch 116 in a release position against the loading of its spring 117.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A totalizer mechanism for registering the total value in dollars and cents of the coins of different denominations handled by a coin handling machine comprising a counter of the reset type having a zero setting shaft and having separately driven unit and tens wheels and transfer gear connections betwen the tens wheel and the wheels of higher order, electrically operated counter driving mechanisms including solenoids operatively connected to the unit wheel and solenoids operatively connected to the tens wheel, a source of electric current, circuits supplied by said source to energize said solenoids, coin controlled switches in said circuits determining which of said solenoids are energized to actuate said wheels to register the value of the coins, a circuit connection including a transfer switch controlled by the unit wheel and operable to energize one ofsaid solenoids to move the tens wheel one unit to transfer the count'cornpleted by the single revolution of the unit wheel to the tens wheel, and

a normally closed switch in said circuit connection opened by means operated by the counter reset sharft during resetting to render said transfer switch ineffective to complete a circuit through one of said solenoids.

, 2. A totalizer mechanism for registering the total value in dollars and cents of the coins' of different denominations handled by a coin handling machine comprising a counter of the zero setting type having separately driven unit and tens wheels and transfer gear connections between the tens wheel and the wheels of higher order, electrically operated counter driving mechanisms including solenoids operatively connected to the unit wheel and solenoids operatively connected to the tens wheel, a source of electric current, circuits supplied by said source to energize said solenoids, coin controlled switches in said circuits determining which of said solenoids are energized to actuate said wheels to register the value of the coins, electrically controlled transfer mechanism for controlling one of said solenoids to energize the same to transfer the count completed by the single revolution of the unit wheel to the tens wheel, a pilot light supplied with current from said source, a switch controlling the pilot light, said switch being normally open, means actuated by the operation of any one of said driving mechanisms for closing said last named switch, and means operated during resetting for moving said last named means to an inoperative position so as to open said pilot light switch.

3. A totalizer mechanism for registering the total value in dollars and cents of coins of different denominations handled by a coin handling machine including a coin carrier and an electric motor for driving said carrier, comprising a counter having separately driven unit and tens wheels, and transfer means between said wheels, electrically operated counter driving mechanism including solenoids operatively connected to the unit wheel and solenoids operatively connected to the tens wheel, a source of electric current, circuits supplied by said source to energize said solenoids, coin controlled switches in said circuits determining which of sad solenoids are energized to actuate said wheels to register the value of the coins, said switches having circuit connections in series with the current supply to said motor so that if any one of said switches fails to operate the current supply to said motor is cut off, and means for stopping said motor when its current supply is shut off due to failure of any one of said coin controlled switches.

4. Totalizer mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein the means for stopping the motor includes a solenoid controlled spring operated latch in series with the current supply for the motor, said latch on the failure of motor current'being movable into locking engagement with said coin carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 284,755 Pidgin et al Sept. 11, 1883 1,799,784 Donnellan Apr. 7, 1931 1,902,035 Lake Mar. 21, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 375,264 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1930 

